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“... This is the worst.” Yup, that’s Sunny Suzuki, laying there on the carpet of his living room with stray bills right beside him. You’re probably wondering how he ended up like this. Well, it all started… an hour ago.
It’s the end of Summer and officially the 1st day of school. Most of his friends have either gone to Elementary School or Daycare, he would have loved to go but his mother, Halley Suzuki, opted him out of Daycare. Saying something along the lines of it being too expensive and a needless expense. Yamaha Suzuki thought otherwise but he knew better than to try his wife at a debate.
So why is Sunny laying down with money beside him you may ask? Well he has an abundance of free time now that he doesn’t have to go to Daycare, and he’s already done his chores and tended to Brittany the Bonsai and Reginald the Tiny Cactus. So to occupy himself, he tried to do errands to try and keep his mind occupied. I.E doing odd jobs around the town.
But even with keeping the Fly Menace at bay, helping Mrs. Baker with her bakery, helping Mr. Reed organize his shelves, helping Fix-It with their shelves (and wondering why that slacker worker hasn’t been fired yet), and picking up rogue pieces of trash around the park that comes back every day because of curses LITERERS!!
Ahem… sorry, got lost there.
Anyway, he’s done everything he could feasibly do and it’s only been an hour. It’s currently 9:00 AM (what can I say, baby Sunny works fast) and he’s bored out of his mind. So, there’s only one thing a 4 year old boy can do when he’s extremely bored… bug his mother.
With renewed determination Sunny climbed up the steps and entered the forbidden land… that is his parents room. And there on the bed laid his slumbering mother. His goal was simple: wake her up.
…
…
Aaaand it was harder than he expected it to be. He tried the standard poking and shaking affair, but when that didn’t work he opted to lightly throw some pillows on her head.
“Mmph.” But that only made her grab them in her sleep and hug them. Darn it, this calls for drastic measures.
With renewed determination, Sunny grabbed the hem of the blanket and lifted it up–
“Graaah!”
“Gaah!” It was a trap! Code Red! CODE RED!!
“Who dares disturb my slumber?!” Halley exclaimed, pulling Sunny into her chest and crushing him in an extra tight Mom Hug™. “There’s grave penalties interrupting my nap!”
“M-Mom! Can’t… breathe.”
“What’s that? Mom?” Halley pulled back the cover to reveal a dazed Sunny, “Oh Sunny, what a relief I thought I saw another small boy worming his way into my bed.” Sunny was too busy trying to regain his bearing to respond, “So, now that you’ve woken me up from my amazing nap, what do you want?”
“... I’m bored.”
Halley resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her son’s short entertainment fuse, “Uh huh. Well have you done–”
“Yes.”
“... You didn’t even listen to what I was going to say.”
“I did my chores, cleaned Jeffery the Lamp, made sure Brittany the Bonsai and Reginald the Tiny Cactus had enough water…”
“Oh well good job–”
“I helped Mrs. Baker, Mr. Reed, the clerk at Fix-It.”
“Wow that’s a lot–”
“I picked up garbage at the park, helped Mrs. Yú deal with her fly problem, I even counted the money they gave me five different times.” He said, holding out the crisp bills, “It’s 110 by the way.”
“... I’m sorry, how much?”
“110.”
“Uhh, how?”
“Mrs. Yú gave me 20 because the flies were that annoying to her, the guy at Fix-It gave me 30 because he said something about ‘wanting to take as much money out of his worker’s paycheck as possible for slacking off’.”
“Uh-huh…?”
“Mr. Reed gives me 20 for organizing his shelves, Mrs. Baker gives me 20 for helping her with her bread, and a nice lady in the park gives me a dollar for each piece of trash I bring. I brought her 20 so she gave me 20 dollars.” Sunny explained, “I saw that Gino’s had a job opening for a part time delivery person, but they only open at 11:00–”
“Okay, Sunny.” Halley didn’t know what was more off-putting. The fact that Sunny made 110 bucks in one hour… or the fact that he can count/add up to 110. Where the hell did he learn that?! “First off we have more money than we’d ever need. Second, I don’t trust you going around to random stranger’s homes delivering pizzas.” Halley said, “I’m all for you making… honestly way too much money than any 4 year old should in one day, but it’s better you get paid by people I know and trust.”
“Okay Mom.”
“Well, alright.” Halley herself out of the bed, “You have my attention. I’ll take you to do something.”
“Really?!”
“Yes, now go away. I need to change.”
“Yes Mom!” Sunny sprinted out of his mother’s room, excited to finally get to do something besides lay around the living room all day.
He can’t wait to see what she’s going to take him to do.
…
“Mom, where are we?”
“Well, since my baby decided to be a working man all of a sudden.” With a jingle of her keys she unlocked the door and gripped the handle, “Let’s get put you to wor–”
*SPLAT*
“We don’t open until Ten!!” A grouchy voice yelled, as the juice of a ripe tomato dripped onto the ground.
“Oi! Old man! Can’t I visit my pops anymore?!” And Halley didn’t take kindly to being nearly assaulted by a rogue tomato.
“Halley! My baby girl!” Luckily a sweeter voice pierced the air, “And my darling Grandson!”
“Grandma!” Sunny let himself be hoisted into the air by the kind Emma ‘Em’ Musōka.
“Ehh? Is that Sunny?!” And out from the back came Ryōri Musōka.
“Uh-huh. Anyway, I’m here to leave him here with you all.” Halley explained.
“Why’s that? Too good to babysit?”
“I’ve been babysitting him for 4 years, pops. And besides, there's a reason why I didn’t put him in Daycare. Teach him how to cook.”
“Teach him huh? Why now?”
“One of the Suzuki Principles is Early Beginning, right? Start him off early, and all that.” Halley then looked towards Sunny being doted on by Emma. “I don’t want him to be forcibly wrapped up in the mess that is the Suzuki’s. If he wants to pursue music then he can. If he wants to be a cook, he can. Heck if he wants to be a garbage man, then he can be a garbage man. What matters is he chooses what he wants to do.”
“I hear ya. So you want me to expose him to the cooking world so if he wants to continue on it he has the skills to do so?”
“Yup, and if he doesn’t… then he’ll be a pretty good home cook for whatever lady he brings home.”
“Halley. He’s 4.”
“And he’s already got like 7 girls lining up, you should have seen it.”
“Well he’s got the Musōka genes in him, doesn’t change the fact that he’s 4.” Ryōri sighed, "Look, I'm more than willing to have him work around here and show him the ropes of being a waiter. But when it comes to learning how to cook, well I'll only do it if he asks me himself."
“Oh trust me, he'll ask you. Anyway I’ll leave him to you, Mrs. Holly will get on my case if I’m not at work. Especially with my excuse of staying home being here.” Halley began walking towards the door, “Be good Sunny."
"You're going?" Sunny asked, getting a bit scared that his Mom was leaving him.
Seeing his bubbling fear, Halley kneeled down to his eye level, "Be strong, okay?"
"... O-Okay." But he willed himself, he wants to be a strong boy.
"That's my baby. Oh and Dad, I swear if you cheap out Sunny I’m going to level half of this restaurant.”
“Yeah yeah yeah.” And with that, she left. Leaving Sunny with his grandparents. “Well Sunny, ready to work?”
“Y-Yeah!” He's still nervous, but ready to work.
“Then follow me.”
…
*Dingling*
“Weird that he called me in so early, why do they need a bartender at ten in the mor–”
“Thank you for coming to Seventh Heaven, ma’am.”
“Oh thank you for having me dearie.” An elderly woman stood up from a table, “Oh, and be sure to not give that extra 20 to the old codger in the back. That’s a tip just for you.”
Tips, his Grandma told him something about that. Extra money people pay to waiters for good service. He honestly didn’t feel like he deserved it, but she also said it was rude to decline it. “Thank you ma’am. Have a good day.” So he didn’t.
It was a Monday, so the diners were light for the breakfast hours. Only retirees, home workers, or those who work afternoons came into the restaurant in the mornings. Which was the perfect time to break Sunny into the world of waiting tables. “Good work Sunny, you made your first tip!” And his Grandma was there to praise him for his work.
“Thanks Grandma.” Sunny replied before looking at the tall brown haired woman, “Whose this?”
“Huh? Oh Tifa! Good morning.”
“Morning Mrs. Musōka.”
“Oh dear just call me Emma, but you’re here just in time.” Emma gently ruffled Sunny’s hair, “This little ball of sunshine is my Grandson, and your new worker.”
Tifa looked at the little boy with skepticism. She understood the concept of a family member giving their kids/grandkids jobs… but someone so young?
… Also did she call him a ‘Little Ball of Sunshine’? Was that a pun?
“Hello pretty lady.”
…
…
Well that came out of left field, “Bahahaha!” And now Emma is laughing, “Oh my little charmer, you can’t just go around calling ladies you don’t know pretty.”
“Really? That’s what my Mom said.”
“Oh did she now?”
“Yeah, she said ‘always compliment a lady’. So I did.”
‘Lord, have mercy for all the ladies in his path when he grows older.’ While the thought of having ladies flocking around her grandson was an amusing thought, she needed to nip this in the bud really quick, “Sunny, while complimenting ladies is nice, you need to know who they are first.”
“Really? Ooh.” With newfound info Sunny turned back towards the… rather flustered woman before him, “Hi, I’m Sunny.”
“T- ahem.” She quickly composed herself, “My name is Tifa.”
“Hi Tifa.” He then turned back towards his grandma, “Can I compliment her now?”
“... Meh, sure go for it.”
“Okay. I like your hair, it’s pretty.”
‘I woke up at 9 in the morning just to be brutally assaulted with compliments?!’
“Sunny, stop flirting with your coworkers! You have another customer!”
…
…
“What does–”
“Don’t worry about it. Run along now, back to work.” Emma wanted to maintain his innocence for a short while longer before Halley ruined it. “Anyway Tifa, I'm sure you have a lot of questions about why a four year old is working here.”
"... Honestly the thought hasn't crossed my mind.
“Ha ha. Anyway, his mother dropped him off, so his old man is making him work.” Emma then leaned closer towards Tifa, “But don’t listen to a word he says, this is all a marketing ploy. Nothing like an adorable four year old to bring in customers.”
Aah, that makes sense. “Well why are you letting him work? He’s only four.”
“Well any excuse to see my Grandson is welcome. And besides, it’s my job as a grandparent to make sure my daughter is raising him right.”
“... Well, do you think so?”
“Well…”
“Here you go ma’am. One order of french toast, eggs cooked over easy, and a mug of coffee.” After a delicate balancing act, Sunny delivered another order of breakfast to another elderly woman “Let me know if you want a refill on your coffee.”
“I will, thank you darling.”
“While her ‘Hopeless Romantic’ tendencies have shined through a bit, all and all she’s raised him well so far. He’s polite, kind, and does a lot of things for people… even if some of them don’t really want it at the time.” She smiled warmly at the sight of Sunny gingerly pouring the woman a fresh mug of coffee, “I’m well aware of myself to admit I’m not smart enough to fully understand that Nature vs Nurture malarkey, but I’d say he’s shaping up just fine.”
“I see.”
“But that’s enough philosophy, we just called you in to meet Sunny and maybe give him pointers–”
“Gramps, she said she wanted scrambled eggs, not sunny side up.”
“But it seems like he’s understanding what he’s doing. I’m sorry we called you in for nothing, you’re free to go back home and rest for your night shift later if you want.”
Well more sleep did sound nice to Tifa, but now that she’s here… “Might as well eat some breakfast.”
“The usual, I take it?”
“Yes, please.”
…
One breakfast consisting of blueberry pancakes, in house sausage links, shredded hash browns, eggs that are scrambled with shredded cheddar, sourdough toast, and a glass of orange juice (Hey, if the girl wants to eat let her eat) later. Tifa was getting ready to go back home to see if she can do some house work–
*Dingling*
“Oi old coot, gimme the usual.”
“A little too early there, Melody. Lunch isn’t served for another 30 minutes.”
“Bah make an exception, why don’tcha?”
“I’m pretty sure I’ve done like 15 exceptions. But whatever. Sunny! Take her order.”
“Kay– Oh G-Auntie Mel!”
“Oh isn’t this a nice surprise!” Her mood did a complete 180 at the sight of her Grand-Nephew. “You working for that old man?”
“Uh-huh. I even have celery.”
‘Oh kids.’ “Sunny, I think you mean ‘a Salary’.”
“No, I mean celery. See?” From his back pocket, Sunny pulled out a ziplock bag full of pieces of celery.
…
…
“Really Duff? You cheaping out Sunny?”
“Oh please, Emma wouldn’t let me have Sunny do a day’s work without pay. That’s just a snack for him to have during break time, as well as a pun.”
…
…
“Well alright then, but you could have at least given him peanut butter to have with it. Who the heck eats plain celery?”
“Oh please, Peanut Butter overshadows the subtle sweetness of celery! Only thing worse is having it with ranch!”
“There you go again with your trash opi–”
“G-Auntie Mel?” Luckily Sunny was there to stop this debate from gaining traction, notepad in hand, “Your order?”
“Actually Sunny, why don’t you take your break and eat your celery. Melody and I have something to discuss.”
“But–”
“It’s a rule around here, Sunny. Workers are required to take breaks, especially the small tiny ones.”
“Hey who are you calling small and tiny?!”
“You, squirt. Now go.” With a squawk of indignation, Sunny trudged away to snack on his celery. Leaving the pair of old folks alone, “So why are you really here?”
“What? Can’t a step cousin visit?” Melody asked in a joking manner, “But if you must know, Yoko has been wanting to drag Mari into the music business.”
“Already? The girl is 7 years old.”
“You know the Suzuki Principles our family swears by. Start them young and all that.” She let out a sigh, “Trust me, that’s the last thing I want is for Yoko to drag Mari into the music industry. You know how Mari is.”
“Yeah, poor thing can’t say no to family. But that doesn’t really answer my question. After… look, you forcibly removed yourself from the Suzuki Family business. Why get involved now?”
“Who said I was getting involved? I could give two s– I couldn’t care less what happens to the family business. Not only have I etched my name into the world of music in my prime, but I’ve stashed away so much money I can live the rest of my days in luxury and still not make a dent in my savings. But what I am here for… is him.”
He followed her gaze, “Sunny? What do you want with him?”
“I wanna teach him how to play an instrument.”
…
…
“Okay, now I have no idea what you want. You say you want nothing to do with the Suzuki Family Business, and yet you want to teach Sunny how to play an instrument?”
“Yup. Call it… a three quarter life crisis. I wanna teach someone the ways before I kick the bucket you know.” Melody rested her chin on her hand, “Halley loves to brag about her kids, understandably so since they’re little balls of adorableness. But from her stories I can tell that the kid has passion, heart. If he commits to something he will give 10,000%.”
“Wehell that’s a given. I mean he has the heart of a Musōka.” Ryōri has a surge of pride well up inside him, before quelling it. "But look, the boy is only four years old and yet he's already working. I'm afraid he's going too fast.”
“The world is as big as it is small, Duff. Besides, he’s not going to Daycare, his father is working with Yoko, Halley is working for Holly, so that boy has a wealth of free time on his hands. Might as well use it up on something.”
“But that point is only good for this year. Once he goes to Kindergarten and beyond there won't be much time for him to learn and instrument and cook. And you know the second Yoko finds out about Sunny--"
"She won't. We'll keep it on the down low away from everyone involved. Including his father. Halley will make sure of that part of it anyway. As for school... well that's for our future selves to figure out." She nudged her head towards Sunny, "So what do you say?"
…
…
“I say we let the boy decide for himself. Oi Sunny.”
“Muuh? *Munch* *Munch* Wha happn?”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full. Didn’t your mother teach you basic manners? Oh wait… no she probably didn’t.”
“Sounds like the fault of her father there.”
“Can it.”
After swallowing his celery, Sunny trotted over to Ryōri. “What happened?”
“Sunny. How would you like to learn how to play an instrument with your G-Auntie?”
“Really? I can learn how to play music?”
“Uh-huh.” Now it’s Melody’s turn to reel him in, “It’s really fun, and you can play music for your friends whenever you want.”
Oh she played the ‘Friends Card’. Sunny imagined his friends listening to him play various instruments and being so impressed with him. He imagined Mari cheering for him in the crowd. It made him smile. “Can I really?”
“Of course. Though your greedy Grandpa over here wants you to work in his store more. So I can only teach you Tuesdays and Thursdays while he has you Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.”
“What about Saturday and Sunday?”
“Pssh, why waste your weekends with us old people when you can play with your friends?” Melody gave a hearty laugh, “And besides, over practicing can be bad. That applies to everything.”
“Oh.” He didn’t even have his first official lesson and he’s already learning so much. “I wanna learn an instrument.”
“That’s my Grand-Nephew. I’ll call Halley later, for now you continue your shift.” Melody said before pointing at Ryōri. “Meanwhile, a certain someone didn’t start my order.”
“Bah you were talking too dang much, that's why.”
“Well if you’re gonna take forever, might as well fix me up a drink.”
“Woman, it's not even noon!”
“It’s five o’ clock somewhere.”
“Yeah. The middle of the freaking Atlantic Ocean!”
“Here they go again…” Emma muttered, watching the duo get into their Elderly Arguments™.
*Dingling*
“Well there’s more customers coming. Sunny, get to your station.”
“Yes grandma.” And just like that Sunny is on deck. That leaves…
“Oi dear, stop arguing and get to cooking.”
“Yes dear…” Well that stopped him real quick.
“Teh, he’s whipped.” Which amused Melody to a great degree.
“What can I say? Never mess with a gal from Texas.”
…
It was 1:30 PM, the end of Sunny’s shift. “Snrk, muh?” And the poor boy can barely keep his eyes open.
“Is my Grandson tired?”
“Mmhmm.”
“Well Halley will be here–”
*Dingling*
“Right now.” Emma looked up to see a… rather disheveled Halley. “Dear? Why do you look… uhh…”
“Beautiful? I am your daughter, Mom.” Halley chuckled at her own joke, “But if you must know, well Ms. Holly is planning to send Sunny a little gift for Christmas, it was stupid heavy.”
“*Snore*.”
“Yeeup, that’s about what I expected.” As gently as she could, she plucked the slumbering boy from the chair and into her arms, “So… how many tips did he get?”
“Oh a lot. The customers loved him.”
“Sweet. Aaaand, did no one question why a four year old is working?”
“Just used the tried and true excuse of ‘He’s working for his allowance, while getting early experience in the field’.”
“Niiiice. Anyway gotta swing by to pick up Mari and Henry, then take this little goober home. I’ll bring him back tomorr–”
“Actually he has a new place to go tomorrow.”
“Oh really? Where?”
“Melody wants to teach him how to play an instrument.”
…
…
“Did she now?”
“Don’t worry, she’s not going to drag him into the Suzuki mess. She just wants to teach little Sunny how to play an instrument for fun.”
“Oh. Well if it’s just for fun then it’s fine. Where is her… what did she call it again?”
“Music Studio.”
“Right, I swear that woman changes it every week. One day it’s a music store, the next it’s a ‘Music Emporium’, she’s gotta run out eventually.”
“Unconventional naming schemes aside, it’s right across the street.”
Halley followed Emma’s finger to see… yup there it is. Melody’s Music Studio on an unlit neon sign. “Well that’s convenient. Anyway gotta go, by Mom. Don’t keel over Pops.”
“I hear ya!”
“Bye dear.”
A successful day of work, and a pocket full of green. Sunny just napped contently, dreaming about his future music escapades. Escapades that start tomorrow.